The project’s goal is to increase levels of trust in high-quality journalism and strengthen the belief that professional, watchdog media are a crucial element in well-functioning democracies. Donor: National Endowment for Democracy

Overall Objective: The project’s goal is to increase levels of trust in high-quality journalism and strengthen the belief that professional, watchdog media are a crucial element in well-functioning democracies.

Partners: Novi Sad School of Journalism (NSSJ – Serbia), Mediacentar (TBC – Bosnia), and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN – Kosovo)

Objectives:

  1. To introduce the Solutions Journalism concept to the local context to produce better, more impactful content on pressing social problems; and
  2. to showcase the ability of Solution Journalism to strengthen audience engagement, boost civic engagement, and enhance media business models.

Activities:

  • Raising awareness through the promotion of continuous events for journalists as well as journalism students, providing the opportunity to meet respected and inspiring journalism figures with a practical experience in Solutions Journalism;
  • promote SoJo at regional journalism events;
  • hold “Ambassador Events” with key influencers from the media world;
  • hold “Ambassador Events” with key influencers from academia;
  • promote workshops and SoJo in social media campaigns;
  • conduct Solution Journalism Workshop in Prague;
  • translate material into all target languages (Albanian, Bosnian, and Serbian);
  • hold workshops for media professionals;
  • hold workshops for journalism students and journalism educators;
  • hold competitions to fund journalists producing SoJo stories with stipends;
  • provide mentoring and feedback to selected candidates; and
  • distribute published stories via the local media and Transitions Online.

The events were held in the days below:

On 4 February 2021, 15-16 CET, we held the “Solutions Journalism – introductory session.” In it, participants learned what solutions journalism is, and what it is not, and why you should bring solutions journalism into your reporting practice. We made a quick analysis of a solutions journalism story and discussed how to distinguish good solutions journalism stories. 

Follow-up country-specific sessions had participants learning the nitty-gritty about how to do solutions journalism including where to look for solutions stories, how to structure a solutions story, and how to prepare a good solutions story pitch. We’ve featured local SoJo examples from particular countries. 

Bosnia & Herzegovina – Thursday, 11 February, 15-16 CET (in English + local language support). Only those who registered for the introductory workshop received the links to the advanced sessions. 

For more information about TOL’s other current projects, please click here.